A quiet visit at a Palm Beach County home turned into chaos when a break-in ended with the resident shot and two rifles missing, according to deputies. The wounded homeowner was found near the front door and rushed to a hospital in serious condition. Investigators say it all started when the homeowner invited two people he knew inside, and a confrontation near a waiting vehicle outside suddenly spiraled into violence.
Arrest and charges
Calvin Devon Waldon is now in jail, charged with attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, armed burglary of an occupied home and grand theft, according to WPBF. Detectives say neighborhood surveillance video and physical evidence at the scene helped them identify who was involved, and two rifles worth about $3,500 were reported stolen. Jail records show Waldon is being held on those charges as the case moves through the court system.
Firearms theft and local context
Stealing guns during home break-ins is a well-known pipeline for weapons that later turn up in other crimes, and federal data shows that most stolen firearms are taken from private homes and vehicles rather than gun stores. As outlined by the ATF, thefts from individual owners far outnumber guns taken from licensed dealers, although burglaries and larcenies involving dealers still add up to thousands of lost or stolen weapons every year. In Palm Beach County, residents who want to keep tabs on trends in burglaries and violent crime can use public dashboards maintained by the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission.
Investigation ongoing
Deputies told reporters that the victim tried to stop the men as they got into a waiting vehicle, and that during a struggle near the car the victim was assaulted and shot before the vehicle sped off, according to WPBF. The sheriff's office says the investigation is still active and detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward. No additional details or possible motive have been released while authorities continue processing evidence in the case.
